Real Madrid 2-0 Valladolid LaLiga 2018/19: match report

Real Madrid 2-0 Valladolid: match report

It wasn't easy but Real Madrid bounced back after their Clásico collapse at the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday afternoon agaianst a valiant Valladolid side. The Pucelanos troubled Madrid when they did attack and hit the crossbar twice but couldn't get close enough to trouble the scoreboard.

Santiago Solari took charge of his first LaLiga game as the Real Madrid manager and he had issues with injuries to contend with. Odriozola and Reguilon replaced injured pair Marcelo and Carvajal and Nahco slotted in, as he so often does, in the middle for Varane in what was a slapdash back four.

Gareth Bale got the nod along with Asensio ahead of Vinicius and Isco despite a clamour for the Brazilian in the capital. The whistlers were out early when, after a decent start by Real Madrid, Valladolid had a string of chances with Enes Unal going closest with a glancing header. 

Reguilon was causing problems down the left but neither Bale, despite his best efforts, or anyone else could turn any of his deliveries home.

Those whistles mutiplied by the time the referee blew for half-time as Valladolid had established themselves in the game and looked like they could be heading back north with, at the very least, a point after their positive opening half display.

It didn't get much better in the second half as Real Madrid continued to bang their head against the wall. Casemiro forced a good save from Masip but that was the best chance they had. Ruben Alcaraz sent a shooting looping over Courtois but he was saved by the crossbar. The same happened shortly after when the impressive Toni Villa sent another similar shot towards goal that hit the same spot on the woodwork. 

Vinicius came on for Marco Asensio with 15 minutes to stake a claim for the visit of Plzen in the Champions League. Just nine minutes later, he had crafted the opener. He drove into the penalty area and struck. He got a massive dollop of luck as it struck Olivas' arm and beat Masip at his near post. But that hardly matter to the teenager as he bowed for the Real Madrid fans who were desperate for some flair.

Not to suggest that there was any in this performance from Real Madrid but the scoreboard, at the end at least, suggested a semblance of order restored.

Karim Benzema was hauled down by Calero in the penalty area just five minutes later as Real Madrid and Sergio Ramos had the chance to save the los Blancos' fans from late nerves. He didn't show of his own from the spot as he slotted down the middle and made it 2-0.

Sergio Gonzalez, the Valladolid manager, said "when a ball is going out for a throw and it hits someone before going in, there is some luck involved" and he is not wrong. But his side had chances too and they couldn't make them count. Their performance, however, was good and while Real Madrid jump them in the league and propel themselves into sixth with 17 points, they can take solace in the trouble they caused the home side.

Solari got his win, Vinicius, the accidental hero, made a difference and they are now two for two under his watch. But if things are to change, things will have to change for Real Madrid because this performance screamed of a tired team with limited creativity.

Real Madrid 2-0 Valladolid online: live updates

Real Madrid - Valladolid live online: preview

Santiago Solari takes charge of his first LaLiga game as the manager of Real Madrid and Ronaldo Nazario returns to the Bernabeu as the president of Valladolid in what will be a game with plenty of scrutiny on it. Real Madrid are sitting 10th with 14 points after ten games while Valladolid have shot up the table after Ronaldo took over. They are in sixth and are unbeaten in their last six league games. 

Real Madrid are without Marcelo, Mariano Diaz, Jesus Vallejo, Dani Carvajal and Raphael Varane for the visit of Valladolid. Solari said he has no undisputed starters in the press conference before the game. The big debate around his starting eleven is whether Vinicius will start. He performed well against Melilla in the Copa during the week and said "this is my style" and the fans are keen to see him given a chance from the start. The Brazilian added a swagger to Real Madrid's performance and that might be needed if they are to drag themselves up the table. The Argentine coach is managing on a provisional basis but Nacho, who should start alongside Ramos in defence, says they are working on the basis that he will be in charge for the rest of the season. 

Valladolid are coming off a win in the Copa over Mallorca with Daniele Verde, on loan from AS Roma, scoring twice. He has now scored three in his last two games and Real Madrid's patched-up rearguard will have their hands full with the attacker. Ronaldo says "happy people who feel values perform better" and he has instilled a sense of joy around the Valladolid side. Manager, Sergio González, says "who would have said six months ago that we would have been playing a game of this importance." Indeed. Valladolid, who were promoted last season after a playoff, looked like they would be going straight back down after a poor start to the league. They are now, unthinkably just a couple of weeks ago, dreaming of Europe.